Minnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
2007 Minnesota Statutes
This is an historical version of this statute chapter. Also view the most recent published version.
44.16 MERIT SYSTEM, ABANDONMENT.
Subdivision 1. Procedure. The merit system may be abandoned and the board abolished in
any municipality in the manner provided in this subdivision. The council may, and upon petition
therefor signed by voters equal in number to at least 25 percent of the electors voting at the last
general municipal election shall, submit to the voters at a regular or special election the question
of abolition of the board. The question on the ballot shall be stated substantially as follows:
"Shall the personnel board be abolished?" If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in
favor of abolition of the board, the board shall cease to exist and the status of all departments
and employees shall thereafter be the same as if no board had been established; but if the board
supplanted a police or firefighter's civil service commission, the board shall not be abolished
unless two-thirds of the electors voting at the election vote in favor of the proposition.
Subd. 2. Home rule charter provisions. Nothing in subdivision 1 shall preclude any
municipality from abolishing the board or modifying its powers and duties by home rule charter
provisions or from supplanting the merit system provided by this chapter by a different provision
in a home rule charter. The provisions of this chapter shall thereafter become inapplicable to such
city except as otherwise provided in the charter.
History: 1951 c 675 s 16; 1977 c 429 s 63
Subdivision 1. Procedure. The merit system may be abandoned and the board abolished in
any municipality in the manner provided in this subdivision. The council may, and upon petition
therefor signed by voters equal in number to at least 25 percent of the electors voting at the last
general municipal election shall, submit to the voters at a regular or special election the question
of abolition of the board. The question on the ballot shall be stated substantially as follows:
"Shall the personnel board be abolished?" If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition is in
favor of abolition of the board, the board shall cease to exist and the status of all departments
and employees shall thereafter be the same as if no board had been established; but if the board
supplanted a police or firefighter's civil service commission, the board shall not be abolished
unless two-thirds of the electors voting at the election vote in favor of the proposition.
Subd. 2. Home rule charter provisions. Nothing in subdivision 1 shall preclude any
municipality from abolishing the board or modifying its powers and duties by home rule charter
provisions or from supplanting the merit system provided by this chapter by a different provision
in a home rule charter. The provisions of this chapter shall thereafter become inapplicable to such
city except as otherwise provided in the charter.
History: 1951 c 675 s 16; 1977 c 429 s 63
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Revisor of Statutes